Repeating air gun



Sept. 29, 1953 E. E. FOSTER REPBATING AIR GUN Filed Oct. 10, 1952 IN VEN TOR. Egal/@6.43m j M 54. lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll A TTR/VEYS.

Patented Sept. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REPEATING AIR. GUN

Edwin E. Foster, Austin, Tex.

Application October 10, 1952, Serial No. 314,158

19 Claims. (Cl. 124-13) This invention relates to repeating air guns and more particularly to toy guns of the type which shoot light projectiles such as hollow plastic balls similar to ping-pong balls.

Repeating air guns have heretofore been proposed in which light spherical projectiles are discharged by air pressure past a resistance to shoot the projectile out and simultaneously to produce a popping sound. It is desirable that such guns be able to shoot a large number of projectiles in succession and that only one projectile be discharged at each operation of the gun. It is furthermore desirable that the air space behind the outermost projectile be made as small as possible to reduce the size of the pump required and to make operation of the gun easier.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a repeating air gun which achieves these several desirable results.

Another object is to provide a repeating air gun in which a second projectile immediately behind the outermost projectile is gripped and sealed to form an end closure for the air space which receives the air for discharging the outermost projectile.

According to one feature the second projectile is gripped and sealed by an inatable sleeve inated by operation of the pump which also produces the discharging pressure.

Still another object is to provide a repeating air gun having a ring chamber which is attached to the gun barrel to receive and successively discharge a series of projectiles in the barrel.

According to one feature the firing chamber is a completely self-contained unit adapted to be attached to the barrel to project therefrom and connected to the pump to receive air therefrom for discharging the projectiles.

A further object is to provide a repeating air gun in which the projectiles in the barrel are urged into the ring chamber with a, substantially constant force regardless of the number of projectiles in the barrel.

According to one feature of the gun a strip spring is employed which extends along the barrel and rolls up into a follower member which is held against turning in the barrel to prevent tangling or twisting of the spring.

In the preferred construction the barrel is provided with a longitudinally extending groove in which the spring lies and which also receives a guiding projection on the follower.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through a repeating air gun embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial section showing the firing chamber construction, and

Figure 4 is a partial enlarged section of the stock end of the gun.

The gun as shown includes a stock portion I0 which may be formed in any desired manner as by molding complementary halves from plastic or like material. The stock 'portion receives the rearward end of an elongated continuous barrel I I which may be formed of metal or of plastic as desired and which is bent between its ends to follow the general angle of a conventional gun. As shown, the barrel extends completely to the butt end of the stock and may be locked by a cross-Web I2 near the butt of the stock. The barrel projects forward from the stock and at its forward end carries a firing chamber mechanism toldischarge projectiles successively from the barre As shown, the barrel is adapted to hold a series of projectiles I3 which may be relatively light and thin plastic balls, such as conventional ping-pong balls. The projectiles are forced into the barrel until the barrel is substantially filled as indicated in Figure 1 and are fed progressively into the firing chamber to be discharged therefrom. For this purpose the barrel contains an elongated flexible strip spring I4 of the type more particularly described and claimed in my copending application, Serial Number 254,100, filed October 3l, 1951. The spring I4 may be in the form of an elongated steel strip anchored to the outer end of the barrel by being folded thereover, as shown in Figure 3, and fitting into a longitudinally extending groove I5 in the barrel. Preferably the barrel is formed with a pair of diametrically opposite grooves I5 and I6, one of which receives the spring I4 and both of which function as guides as explained more fully hereinafter. The spring I4 is biased so that it tends to roll relatively tightly upon itself, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. Therefore the spring will exert a substantial constant pressure on a series of projectiles to urge them toward the firing chamber regardless of hovr many projectiles are in the barrel.

The spring engages a follower having a spherical forward end I'I of substantially the same size and shape as the projectiles I3 to engage the innermost projectile and urge the projectiles through the barrel. A substantially semi-cylindrical hollow portion I8 is attached to the fol- 3 lower portion I1 and is formed with an opening I3 therein through which the spring I4 can extend. The portion I8 provides a partially cylindrical cavity of a size to receive the rolled up spring I4 so that the spring will be guided thereby and held against accidental tangling while being permitted to roll up freely without binding or friction. To prevent twisting of the spring the guide portion I8 of the follower is formed with lugs 2| which t into the grooves I5 and I6 as shown. Thus turning of the follower in the barrel is limited so that the spring is held straight and in proper functioning condition at all timesl' The firing chamber at the forward end of the barrel provides a restriction to seal against the outermost projectile and also provides grippingr and sealing means to grip a Vsecond projectile in the series. As shown, the firing chamber is molded in one piece of anelastic material such as rubber, a well plasticized resin, or the like. The firing chamber includes a tubular body 22 formed at' its inner endV to fit over the end of the barrel and preferably to engage over a strap 23 on the end of the barrel which provides an enlarged abutment to hold the firing chamber more securely in place. The firing chamber Vprovides a passage which is substantially a continuation of thebarrel through whichV the projectiles can pass successively. Near its outer end the firing chamber is formed with an integral'annular lip 24 extending inward therefromV and angling axially toward the inner end of the barrel. An annular shoulder 25 lies beyond the lip and is adapted to engageand support the lip during discharge of a projectile as shown in Figure 3. The ring chamber `body terminates in a slightly flared axial flange 26 beyond the shoulder 25 which can be folded as indicated in dotted lines in Figure '3 to vincrease the resistance to discharge of projectiles when desired, thereby to increase the distance 'through which the projectiles will be shot'and the noise accompanying their discharge.

With the annular lip 24 andy shoulder 25 as shown projectiles can easily be forced into the barrel 'past' the lip 24 since it 'affords relatively low resistance Vto deflection in the inward direction. However, when a projectile is'being forced out as shown'in Figure 3, the lip will fold over the' shoulder V25 and an expansion of the end of th'e body will be required to permit the projectile to pass;y Therefore a relatively high resistance to 'discharge'will be' provided so that the projectiles will be' shot the desired distance and will produce thefdesired noise asthey are shot.

In order to hold projectiles behind the outermost one which is to be discharged from reverse movement 'in thebarrel a gripping and sealing means is provided in the firing chamber. As shown this means comprises an elastic infiatable sleeve 21`fitting into thedischarge chamber body and preferably rigidly secured thereto at the inner end by fitting over the strap 23 and beneath the b'ody. -Atl its forward end the sleeve 21 is detached from the body but preferably terminates in a relatively heavier reinforced ring 28 integral with the sleeve and formed of the same resilient material such as rubber. Between the ends of the sleeve the body is formed with an air inlet passage 29 to receive air for discharging the projectiles.

When no airV pressure is present the sleeve 21 will occupy the position shown in Figure 1 so that the spring I4 can advance the series of projectiles through the barrel until the'outermost projectile strikes the discharge lip 24. The

strength of the spring I4 is so adjusted that lt will not advance the projectile further so that the gun will remain in the condition shown in Figure 1 until operating air pressure is supplied to the ring chamber. As soon as air is supplied through the passage 29 the sleeve 21 will be inated as shown in Figure 3 to grip and to seal against the second projectile in the series. As the pressure continues to increase air will force its way past the reinforcing ring 28 on the sleeve 21 and into the space between the outermost proj ectile and the second projectile which is gripped by the sleeve. It will be observed that the reinforcing ring 28 provides a resistance to flow of air therepast so that it is insured that the sleeve 21 is expanded into gripping and sealing engagement with the second projectile before any air enters the actual firing chamber.

Air flowing past thel ring 28 will enter the ring chamber between the outermost projectile and second projectile and will force the outermost projectile forward as shown in Figure 3. As the pressure becomes sufficient to expand the restricted end ofthe firing chamber, the outermost projectile will be discharged therefrom with a relatively loud popping noise. As soon as this projectile is discharged the pressure is dissipated and the parts return to the position shown in Figure 1, ready for a repeat operation.

Air for operation is furnished by a hand pump mounted beneath the barrel for manual single stroke operation. As shown, the pump comprises a piston tube 3 I rigidly secured at one end to the stock and at its forward end carrying a piston provided with a cup leather packing 32 as shown. A discharge tube 33 fits into the piston tube and has its inner end sealed against flow of air through the piston tube While its outer. end connects with the passage 29 in the firing chamber. The tube 33 is provided with at least one port 34 forwardly of the piston 32 through which air can flow into the tube.

The pump is completed by a cylinder 35 slidably mounted over the piston and sealed against the discharge tube 33 by an annular packing 36. At its rear end thecylinder ts loosely over the guide tube 3I so that air can enter freely be.-A tween them.

When the cylinder. 35 is moved forwardly, air. will be drawn in through the rear end of the cylinder around the tube 3| and will pass freely past the cup leather packing 32 into the space aheadof thepiston. When the cylinder is pulled backward 'the cup' leather packing will seal and the air in front' of the piston will be forced through the tubeV 33 and into the firing chamber. to cause discharge 'ofthe single projectile therefrom as described above. Each time the cylinder 35 is reciprocated, a projectile will be discharged until all of the projectiles in the barrel have been discharged therefrom. It will be noted that in discharging the last projectile the spherical portion I1 of the follower will fit into the sleeve 21 and will functionas the second projectile in the firing operation described above. A

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood thatthis is illustrative only and is not to be taken asa denition of the scope'of the invention, reference'being had for this' purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A repeating` air gun comprising a barrel to hold a pluralityV of'projectiles, a firing chamber at one'end'of the'barrel including an annular attacca resilient restriction through which the projectiles must pass and which seals against the outermost projectile, an annular inflatable sleeve in .the firing chamber rearwardly of the restriction, a pump, a connection from the pump to the iniiatable sleeve to inflate the sleeve into gripping and sealing engagement with a projectile inward of the restriction, and means forming a connection from the pump into the space lbetween .the last named projectile and the outermost projectile.

2. A repeating air gun -comprising a barrel to hold a plurality of projectiles, a ring chamber at one end or" the barrel including an annular resilient restriction through which the projectiles must pass and which seals against the outermost projectile, an annular inflatable sleeve in the firing chamber rearwardly of the restriction, a pump, a connection from the pump to the inflatable sleeve to inate the sleeve into gripping and sealing engagement with a projectile inward of the restriction, and means forming a restricted connection from the inflatable sleeve to the space between the last named projectile and the outermost projectile.

3. A repeating `air gun comprising a lbarrel to hold a plurality of projectiles, a ring chamber at one end or the barrel including an annular resilient restriction through which the projectiles must pass and which seals against the outermost projectile, an annular inata-ble sleeve in the ring chamber rearwardly7 or" the restriction, a pump, a connection from the pump to the inflatable sleeve to inflate the sleeve into gripping and sealing engagement with a projectile inward of the restriction, the forward end of the inflatable sleeve being yieldable in response to pressure to pass air under pressure from the sleeve to the space between the last named projectile and the outermost projectile.

d. In a repeating air gun, a firing chamber comprising a tubular body of a size to pass circular section projectiles, a resilient restriction adjacent to the outer end of the body through which the projectiles pass and which seals against the outermost projectile, an annular resilient sleeve in the body, an air passage in the body opening into the space between the body and the sleeve to press the sleeve into gripping and sealing contact with a projectile in the body, and means defining a restricted air passage from said space to the space in the body lbetween. the last named projectile and the outermost projectile.

5. In `a repeating air gun, a firing chamber comprising a tubular body of a size to pass circular section projectiles, a resilient restriction adjacent to the outer end of the body through which the projectiles pass and which seals against the outermost projectile, an annular resilient sleeve in the body, an air passage in the body opening into the space between the body and the sleeve to press the sleeve into gripping and sealing contact with a projectile in the body, the forward end of the sleeve being detached from the body to pass air from said space to the space in the body forward of the projectile gripped by the sleeve.

6. In a repeating air gun, a firing chamber comprising a tubular body of resilient lmaterial adapted to pass projectiles, a resilient annular lip at the outer end of the body to seal against a projectile `and to resist outward passage thereof, an elastic sleeve in the body-inward of the lip,

1an air passage in the body opening into the space between the body and the sleeve to press the sleeve into gripping and sealing engagement with a second projectile in the body, and means forming a restricted passage from said space to the space outward of the second projectile.

'7. In a repeating air gun, a ring chamber 'comprising a tubular lbody of resilient material adapted to pass projectiles, a resilient annular lip at the outer end of the body to seal lagainst a projectile and to resist outward passage thereof, an elastic sleeve in the body inward of the lip, an air passage in the body opening into the space between the body and the sleeve to press the sleeve into gripping and sealing engagement with a second projectile in the body, the outward end of the sleeve Ibeing detached from the 4body for flow of air therepast into the space outward of the sleeve.

8. A repeating air gun comprising an elongated rigid barrel adapted to hold a series of projectiles, a firing chamber at one end of the barrel including an annular resilient restriction to engage and seal against the outermost projectile `oi the series, a pump connected to the firing chamber to pump air into it, an inflatable sleeve in the firing chamber inward of the restriction communicating with the pump to be inflated thereby into gripping and sealing engagement with a second projectile in the series, means to establish restricted communication from the pump to the space between the second projectile and the outermost projectile, and feed means connected to the barrel to urge the projectiles of the series outward toward the firing chamber.

9. A repeating air gun comprising an elongated rigid barrel adapted to hold a series of projectiles, a firing chamber at one end -of the ybarrel including an annular resilient restriction to engage and seal against the outermost projectile of the series, a pump connected to the ring chamber to pump air into it, an inflatable sleeve in the ring chamber inward of the restriction communicating with the pump to be inflated thereby into gripping and sealing engagement with a second projectile in the series, means to establish. restricted communication from the pump to the: space between the second projectile and the out ermost projectile, an elongated strip spring in the barrel secured thereto adjacent to the ring chamber and biased to roll upon itself, a follower slidable in the barrel to urge the projectiles therethrough and having a cavity therein to receive the spring as it rolls up, and interengaging guide parts on the follower and the barrel to hold the follower against rotation in the barrel.

10. A repeating air gun comprising an elongated rigid barrel adapted to hold a series of projectiles, a firing cham-ber at one end of the barrel including an annular resilient restriction to engage and seal against the outermost projecn tile of the series, a pump connected to the firing chamber to pump air into it, means in the firing chamber controlled by operation of the pump to grip and seal against a second projectile in the series, a follower slidable in the barrel to urge `the projectiles therein toward the firing chamber, `an elongated strip spring in the barrel secured adjacent to the firing chamber and biased to roll upon itself, the follower having an opening therein through which the spring extends and a cavity to receive the spring as it rolls up, and cooperating guide parts on the follower and barrel to limit turning of the-follower in the barrel.

11. A repeating air gun comprising an elongatedrigid barreladaptedA tof hold a series. of=

projectiles, a firing-chamber at one-endz of:- the.

barrel including an'annular resilient restric.

pump to grip and seal, against a. second .projec-y tile in the series, a followerslidable in the-barrel' to urge the projectiles therein` toward` the. firing chamber, an elongated strip 4springin the. barrel. secured adjacent to -the firing chamber -andbiased to roll upon itself, the follower. having. an` opening therein through whichi the. spring extends,

and a cavity to receive. theispring as itrollsup, the barrel having a longitudinal groove therein in which the spring lies, and a projection on the follower fitting intoV the. groove. tot limit turning of the follower in the barrel.

12. Av repeating air.. guncomprising-an elongated barrel to receive. a seriesof projectiles, a firing chamber at. oneend of thebarrel to receive and dischargethe projectiles successively, a follower 4slidable in the .barrelv to urge the. projectiles therein .toward the firingchamber, an elongated .stripspring inthe barrel secured thereto adjacent. to the ring chamber and biased to roll upon. itself, the.. follower. having` a cavity therein to. receive .,thespring as it.` rolls up, and

interengaging guide parts on the follower and.

barrel having, a longitudinal groove, therein in` which the springdies, and` a projection on the follower tting intol the groove Vtolimit turning o the follower in .the barrel.

14. An air gun `comprising abarrel, a stock` secured to oneV endofA thebarrel, means secured.l

tothe barrel to supply, air under pressure to the barrel, a resilient construction at the .muzzle end. of the barrel to form an air tight- Contact with the projectiles butto-yieldgwhen airin thebarrelis placed under` pressure, by said means, andv meansv in the barrelextendingalong the interior.. thereof to contact. and urgethe last projectiles;

in the barrel toward the niuzzleendcfthe. barrel, said last-mentioned means beingin the form of a spring ribbon secured` at oneend to-the muzzle end of the gun. and extending alongthe.. inside surface of the barrel and which tends to,v coil at the other end ofdthe barrel to urgethe.

projectiles in the barrel toward themuzzleend thereof with a substantially uniform force re, gardless of thenumberof projectiles in thebarrel.

15. The construction of claim 14 in which the barrel is formed on one side with a longitudinally extending` groove and said springribbonlies in the groove.

16. A repeating air gun comprisipga barrel to holda plurality,ofPrOjectilesVa firing chamber at oneendof thebarrel including anannular resilient restriction through which the .pr o. jectiles must, pa ss and whichy seals against.y .the outernriostv4 projetilm. a ,pump l conneted to the firing chamber to pump air into it rearwardly o1' the outermost` projectile, and gripping meansmounted in the firing chamber for radial movement-therein into and out of the path of a projectile passing through therring chamber, said gripping means normally lying out of said path and being movable into said path to hold a projectile in the ring chamber against rearward movement in response to operation of the pump.

1'7. A repeating air gun comprising a barrel to.

hold a plurality of projectiles, a firing chamber at one end of the barrel including an annular resilient restriction through which the projectiles must pass and which seals against the outermostprojectile, a pump connected to the firingchamber topump air into it, and gripping means mountedin'the firing chamber for radial movement therein into and outof the path of a projectile passing through the firing chamber, said means normally lying out of said path and communicating with the pump to be forced into said.

path to hold a projectile in the ring chamber against rearward movement by air pressure from the pump.

18. A repeating air gun comprising a barrel to hold a plurality of projectiles, a firing chamber at one end of the barrel including an annular resilient restriction through which the projectiles must pass and which seals against ,the outermost projectile, pressure operated means in the ring chainbe1` movable radially inwardtherein in response to air pressure tol grip and seal against a second projectile inward of the outermost projectile, a pump, a substantially unrestricted connection from the pump to the pressure operated means to move it radially inward in the iiring chamber, and a restricted connection from the pump to the space in the iiring chamber between the outermost and second projectiles to supply from the pump `to the firing chamber at a slower rate than to the pressure operated means thereby to insure that the pres,- sure operated means grips the second projectile before the firing chamber is subjected to pressure.

19. A repeating air gun comprising an elonfv gated rigid barrel adapted tov hold a series of projectiies, a firing chamber at one end of the barrel including an annular resilient restriction to engage and seal against the outermost projectile of the series, a pump connected to the ring chamber .to pump air into it, means mounted for radial movement in the ring chamber normally lying out of the path of a projectile passing through the ring chamber and movable inre-4 sponse to operation of the pump radiallyinward of the ring chambei1 to grip a'secondprojectile in the series and hold it against inward longi# tudinal movement inthe ring chamber and.

barrel, and feed means connected to the barrel to urge the projectiles of the series outward toA ward the firing chamber.

EDV/'IN E. FOSTER..`

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

